THE INSPIRER

In a busy, results focused world, it can be very easy to be seduced by the end goal, the feeling that achieving our desired outcome justifies whatever means are required to get there. For some people that attitude and mindset can be enough. For them, it is all about winning.

Interestingly however, more and more people are finding that they are questioning that attitude. They are finding that there needs to be more to success than just winning at any cost. These people feel that, whatever the outcome, there has to be a sense of satisfaction and personal fulfillment to warrant the time and effort put into their endeavours. They find it important to feel good about themselves, to feel that they have behaved fairly and with a sense of dignity and honour and as such have a clear conscience and be able to sleep at night.

Life contains more happiness and contentment when everyone is accepting of the situations they find themselves in, or at least understand why things worked out that way. Even bad news can be tolerated with a good grace if it is delivered in a fair, respectful manner.

Integrity has several key components:
- Being true to yourself. Being able to live with yourself and your actions is the key to happiness and contentment in life. Peace of mind means being comfortable with your own choices and decisions. What other people say or know about events can factor in to some extent, but the ultimate point of reference is oneself. Doing the right thing so that it sits comfortably with oneself is ultimately the important criteria in personal integrity.

- Having a Clear Conscience. We all have a conscience and maintaining that sense of being honest, being true to our own code of conduct, deciding to do what is fair and right is more important than the law of the land or what we discover we can get away with. Our own sense of values is the key factor to having a clear conscience. This is not the same as being motivated by guilt or emotional blackmail. It is about deciding what is the right thing to do, the right choice to make and then handling that decision fairly for all concerned.

- Giving Value for Money. This means being honest and responsible, doing right by others, doing a fair days work for a fair days pay, appreciating that our wages are a charge on the business and as such we have to earn our keep. Having integrity in charging others a fair price for any goods or services that they purchase off us.

- Living with a sense of fair play. This was brought home to me recently. I was taking part in an award at my gym, a challenge that entailed reaching different levels of fitness. As each stage was completed the prize was a t-shirt, each level having a different colour. When I started the challenge and passed the first level a member of the gym staff offered me a higher level t-shirt and I was tempted for a minute to take it, but my trainer refused. I quickly appreciated having taken the correct t-shirt. I had earned the right to wear it. I was then provided with the motivation to work towards the next level of accomplishment, determined to win it fairly. Fair play provides motivation and a sense of having earned each level of success. And not minding losing if the experience has been a fair and satisfying challenge.